The Defiant Clones: Stories of Those Who Defied Order 66 in Star Wars Canon & Legends

Order 66 in Star Wars marked the moment when the clones turned against the Jedi. However, there were some who defied Palpatine's order, both in the official canon and in Legends. Palpatine had planned the Clone Wars as a trap for the Jedi, leading to the devastating Order 66 and the Jedi Purge. With a single command from Darth Sidious, Jedi across the galaxy were betrayed and slain. In the Star Wars canon, a darker twist was revealed about Order 66 - the clones had inhibitor chips implanted in them, compelling them to obey and turn on their Jedi leaders.

Despite the power of Palpatine's command, there were clones who chose to resist. This act of defiance was seen in both Legends and canon, with some clones aiding Jedi in escaping. The series Star Wars: The Bad Batch features the stories of such clones, including a group of mutant clones who helped the Jedi Padawan Ezra Bridger evade capture. These are the stories of the clones who chose to disobey Order 66.

Fives

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Clone Trooper Fives looking scared in Star Wars The Clone Wars - Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Fives, a prominent clone trooper in Star Wars: The Clone Wars, had his entire career arc explored in the animated TV show. He was among the first to uncover the inhibitor chips and removed his own long before Order 66 came into effect. In a heartbreaking moment, Supreme Chancellor Palpatine revealed his true Sith identity to Fives, who struggled to get others to believe him. Fives managed to warn his fellow clones, Rex and Kix, about the chips, but tragically was killed by friendly fire. Despite his death, Fives' revelations had a lasting impact on the Star Wars saga.

Able

Star Wars: Empire and Star Wars: Rebellion (Legends)

Clone Trooper Able in Star Wars - Star Wars: Empire and Star Wars: Rebellion (Legends)

Able-1707, a regular clone trooper, made an appearance in the Empire and Rebellion comics of the Legends series. After his transport was shot down by the Separatists during the Clone Wars' second year, he managed to survive on the deserted planet of Lubang Minor for 21 years. It was during this time that he crossed paths with Luke Skywalker, who enlightened him on the transition from the Republic to the Empire. Despite his conditioning, Able chose to join the rebels, demonstrating that even standard clone troopers possess individuality and are formidable warriors in the galaxy.

Rex

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Live-action Captain Rex in Ahsoka episode 5 - Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Rex is a beloved character in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Fans were relieved when he defied Order 66 in the series. Taking Fives' warnings seriously, Rex filed an official report on the inhibitor chips. This knowledge helped him resist Order 66, allowing Ahsoka Tano to stun him and remove the chip. With his free will restored, Rex and Ahsoka went into hiding. In Star Wars: The Bad Batch, Rex fought against the early Empire and later appeared in Star Wars Rebels.

HOB-147

Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures (Legends)

Clone Hob-147 in Star wars - Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures (Legends) - HOB-147

Meet HOB-147, a starfighter pilot from the Legends universe who appeared in the Star Wars: Clone Wars Adventures comics. Unfortunately, his V-19 Torrent was destroyed in a space battle, but he was fortunate enough to be rescued by a scavenger. While recovering from his injuries, HOB-147 missed out on Order 66. However, he decided to stand with the Jedi after discovering that the scavenger was hiding Jedi younglings. When the Empire intercepted the scavenger's ship, HOB-147 bravely chose to deceive the Empire by claiming that there were no Jedi on board.

Wolffe

Star Wars Rebels

Star Wars The Clone Wars Commander Wolffe - Star Wars Rebels

Wolffe, another clone trooper from Star Wars: The Clone Wars and Star Wars Rebels, is known for his gruff demeanor but also has a rarely-seen friendly side. Throughout the Clone Wars, he faced some traumatic events, including losing an eye to Asajj Ventress and getting a cybernetic replacement. Although the story of how Wolffe had his inhibitor chip removed has not been told in Star Wars, he managed to avoid joining the Empire and eventually found his way to the rebellion.

Omega and Yayax Squads

Star Wars: Republic Commando series (Legends)

Boss, the leader of Delta Squad in Star Wars: Republic Commando, points to direct fire while an explosion goes off behind him. - Star Wars: Republic Commando series (Legends) - Omega and Yayax Squads

Omega Squad, the main characters in Karen Traviss' Republic Commando novels, had a special connection to the Mandalorians. Their trainer, Kal Skirata, cared more about Mandalorian traditions than obeying the Empire. One of the squad members, Darman, was involved romantically with Jedi General Etain Tur-Mukan. Thanks to Skirata's guidance and backing, Omega Squad chose not to obey Order 66.

Kix

Another group of clone commandos, known as Yayax Squad, played a smaller role in the Republic Commando novels. Similar to Omega Squad, these clones also chose to disobey Order 66. The leader of Yayax Squad, Cov, was in a romantic relationship with Kal Skirata’s daughter. Following the downfall of the Republic, Cov and his squad decided to desert their duties in order to join Kal and spend the rest of their days on the Mandalorian homeworld. This display of loyalty and love among the commando squads showcased the deep bond they shared, as they risked everything to support one another, even going against their most crucial orders.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Star Wars Clone Trooper Kix - Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Null-Class ARC Troopers

A compassionate and reliable clone medic, Kix was a valuable member of Rex's team in Star Wars: The Clone Wars. Similar to Rex, Kix took Fives' concerns about the inhibitor chips seriously, but he went a step further by trying to uncover their true purpose. By removing his own inhibitor chip, Kix defied Order 66 and refused to follow its deadly command. Unfortunately, before he could alert others about the chips, Kix was captured by Count Dooku, who wanted to keep the chips' existence a secret. Kix was put into suspended animation and was only awakened many years later, finding himself caught in the conflict between the Resistance and the First Order.

Star Wars: Republic Commando series (Legends)

- Star Wars: Republic Commando series (Legends) - Null-Class ARC Troopers

Gregor

Featured in the Legends-era Republic Commando novels, the six Null-Class ARC Troopers were the first Jango Fett clones. Their Kaminoan creators saw them as imperfect and callously planned to execute them. Kal Skirata, disgusted by this disregard for human life, saved the clones and adopted them as his sons. The Null ARC Troopers’ place in the Republic army was shaky at best, so it’s unsurprising they disobeyed Order 66 and deserted with their adopted father. The Nulls represented the Mandalorian heritage shared by all Clone Troopers, which was far more important than the schemes of the Jedi, Republic, and Sith.

Star Wars Rebels

Star Wars: The Clone Wars - Clone Commando Captain Gregor fights off waves of battle droids to save D-Squad - Star Wars Rebels

Gregor: A Brave Clone Commando

A clone commando from Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Gregor faced trauma and amnesia during the war. He worked as a dishwasher on Abafar before regaining his memories. Like Wolffe and Rex, Gregor removed his inhibitor chip and kept his free will. He later joined the Rebellion in Star Wars Rebels. Despite his eccentricities, Gregor bravely fought in the Liberation of Lothal, sacrificing his life in the process. He died fighting against the influence of Darth Sidious, just like a few other clones.

Star Wars: Republic Commando series (Legends)

Star wars NULL Class ARC Troopers - Star Wars: Republic Commando series (Legends) - Maze

The Alpha-Class ARC Troopers: The Most Elite Clones

The Alpha-Class ARC Troopers were considered the most lethal clones in the Republic army. Unlike other clone troopers, they were personally trained by Jango Fett and did not undergo the same mental modifications. Due to their independent thinking, many Alpha clone troopers, like Maze, were against Order 66. Maze, a dedicated reader with strong political views and a soft spot for Jedi Knights, chose not to support the oppressive regime or partake in the massacre of Jedi.

Star Wars: Kanan

Star Wars Clone Commander Grey - Star Wars: Kanan

Clone Force 99 (AKA The "Bad Batch)

Introduced into Star Wars canon in the Star Wars: Kanan comics, Grey served under Jedi Master Depa Billaba and her Padawan, Caleb Dume. Grey enjoyed a close friendship with Billaba and Dume, but when Order 66 was issued, his inhibitor chip overrode this for a time. While Grey and his men gunned down Billaba and spent days tracking Dume, he gradually began to question his actions. While pursuing a ship harboring Caleb, Grey finally gathered enough willpower to overcome his inhibitor chip’s influence and sabotage his ship, sacrificing his life and the lives of his men to save his friend.

Star Wars: The Bad Batch

Clone Force 99 in The Bad Batch. - Star Wars: The Bad Batch - Clone Force 99 (AKA The "Bad Batch)

Cut Lawquane

Cut Lawquane is a character introduced in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and now part of the Clone Force 99. The group consists of mutant clone commandos who have developed immunity to their inhibitor chips, allowing them to disobey Order 66. Echo, a member of the group, was not born with mutations but was implanted with cybernetics by the Separatists, giving him resistance to the chip as well. It is worth noting that only one member of the Bad Batch, Crosshair, followed Order 66.

Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Suu and Cut Lawquane on Star Wars The Bad Batch - Star Wars: The Clone Wars

Cut Lawquane, a clone in the Star Wars canon, stood out for deserting the clone army. He was deeply affected by the loss of his fellow clones early in the war, leading him to flee the Republic. Cut settled on Saleucami, where he became a farmer, husband, and father. Even though he had not removed his inhibitor chip when Order 66 was issued, his distance from the Republic military spared him from being brainwashed, allowing him to defy Palpatine's orders. It was later revealed in Star Wars that Rex paid a visit to Cut Lawquane after the Clone Wars, suggesting that he may have removed his inhibitor chip then.

Editor's P/S:

The clones in Star Wars, bred for loyalty and obedience, faced a moral dilemma when Order 66 was issued. Despite their conditioning, several defied Palpatine's command, demonstrating individuality and a sense of justice. These clones, like Fives, Able, and Rex, chose to break free from the inhibitor chips' control and protect the Jedi. Their actions highlight the complexities of the Star Wars universe, where even those created for war can find their own path.

Furthermore, the clones' defiance of Order 66 adds depth to the characters and the story. It shows that even in a galaxy torn apart by conflict, individuals can make choices based on their beliefs and values. The clones who disobeyed Palpatine's order became symbols of hope and resistance, inspiring others to question authority and fight for what they believe is right. Their stories serve as a reminder that even in the darkest of times, there is always the potential for redemption and the triumph of good over evil.